Relating to the appointment of a special prosecutor by the court of criminal appeals for certain criminal cases.

SB 1861 establishes a process for appointing a special prosecutor to handle criminal cases involving election law violations. If law enforcement investigates such an offense, they submit a report to the Court of Criminal Appeals, which must then appoint a special prosecutor from outside the local jurisdiction (unless the agency has statewide authority). The special prosecutor reviews the report and decides whether to prosecute the case, decline charges, or request further investigation. This process applies specifically to offenses under Texas election laws and takes effect September 1, 2025.